17-Year-Old Surfer Almost Lost His Life After a Horrific Accident With Canoe Paddlers

Surfing is exciting and invigorating. It might even make you feel like a water god, conquering the waves on the surfboard. However, it does not come without its dangers. While there might be some unseen and unfathomable dangers, sometimes the trouble is right above the surface. Other humans might prove to be equally damaging as sharks or rowdy waves or any other sea creatures. Something similar took place when this 17-year-old boy almost lost his life.

A teenage surfer by the name of Kai Keuning was knocked unconscious while surfing by some canoe paddlers. However, he luckily escaped with his life.

Surfing accident proves to be near fatal

According to KHON2, the incident took place when Kai Keuning was surfing at Tongg’s just outside of Waikiki in July 2021. A canoe ran him over, and his friends found him unconscious. One of the paddlers of the canoe was Kali Watson, a nominee to head the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Kai Keuning had been underwater for a small period before he was pulled out by his friend and given CPR. While canoes might seem small, they are heavy and therefore, carry a punch.

According to the Keuning family attorney,  Jim Bickerton, “The canoe itself weighs probably with three or four people in it, it’s going to be close to 1,000 pounds, certainly 800 pounds.” It is common knowledge that surfing and paddling work on some unwritten rules. However, Watson and the two other paddlers decided to break these rules, and they chose to ride through the surf break.

The family attorney Bickerton remarked, “The impression that I get from all of the facts that I’ve reviewed is that they were just being cocky. They thought they were really good, really skilled, and they could maneuver their way around the crowd.” This cockiness almost cost a young surfer his life.

Read more: “Hope to Be at War Again”: Teenage Surfing Sensation Wishes to Come Back Stronger After a Gruesome Injury

The unspoken rules of surf and paddle

KHON2, after the incident, asked the surfers in and around the area what their views were. While they expressed that anyone was free to come and try their hands at the waves, it was an unspoken rule that everyone needed to follow the implicit rules. Jesse MacPherson said, “It’s basically an open playground out there; so, anyone can be anywhere as long as everyone respects each other. That’s the biggest thing.” John Hearn said, “Everybody can go wherever they want as long as they exercise caution and try to be careful.”

Dive deeper: 23-Year-Old Surfing Sensation, Who Had ‘Prepared for Death,’ Proved Science Wrong With a 32-Hour North Atlantic Survival in 2017

As for Keuning, the teenager had a blood clot in his brain which cannot be surgically removed. So, the road to recovery must be a long one for him. Especially since he has to go in for regular scans to ensure it does not become life-threatening. Hopefully, things will turn out well for the young surfer.

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